Kejriwal allocates portfolios, keeps power, finance

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Saturday allocated portfolios to his six Cabinet colleagues while keeping the key departments of Home, Finance, Power and Vigilance with himself.

The Chief Minister will also keep Planning, Services and all other departments not allocated to the Ministers, an official statement said.

Manish Sisodia, considered close to Kejriwal, has been given the charges of Revenue, PWD, Urban Development, Education, Higher Education, Local Bodies and Land and Building departments.

Kejriwal, in his first press conference after being sworn-in as the Chief Minister, had announced the portfolios for his colleagues.

Somnath Bharti, a postgraduate from IIT, will take the charge of Administrative Reforms, Law, Tourism and Culture.

Administrative Reforms is high on Kejriwal's agenda with efforts to decentralise power and establish the Mohalla Sabha.

The department is also likely to take steps to bring an end to the VIP culture and also provide time-bound and efficient services to the people.

The youngest Minister in Kejriwal's cabinet, Rakhi Birla, will handle Social Welfare and Women and Child Development departments and Languages.

She has also been given the additional charge to formulate steps required for enhancing security of women.

Girish Soni has been given charge of Labour, Development Skill Development and SC/ST departments.

Satyendra Jain has been allocated Health, Industries and Gurudwara Elections.

Saurabh Bharadwaj, a B Tech in computer science who was working with an MNC, has been given the charge of Departments of Food and Supply, Transport, Environment, Election and General Administration Department.